Calling all animators! (Animation contest is live!!!)

[teh lag]

If you can animate and have 3DS, here's a chance to show some skill and play with some new toys.

The Rules
Follow these or we won't count your entry.

• Final submissions must consist of the source .max file (any version will do) and a render in video form (no .gifs please) of the animation. Submission .max files are to be sent to the judges via PM, but feel free to post the video anywhere you want.
• Contestants must use the rig(s) provided.
• Contestants must use the render setup provided (minor changes like resolution are fine, just don't replace the materials or lighting or background or something like that).
• Animation rig may be modified to the contestant's preference (re-organizing bones, custom IK rigs, etc are fine).
• Geometry may be modified only if it is necessary for the animation. This means that you can detach parts if you want them to move or duplicate them if you need more of them, but you may not import outside geometry or edit things for purely visual appeal. This competition is about animation not modeling.

Scoring
Entries are judged on a 20-point scale from 4 criteria, 5 points each. The entry with the highest combined score from all judges wins.

• 1) Creativity - Did your animation go beyond copying something? Is it something we haven't seen before?
• 2) Definition - are your motions clear or sloppy? Do moving parts slide around aimlessly? Good animations have strong, well-placed movement.
• 3)Smoothness - Does it jump around? Is it unnatural or does it flow the way you would expect it to?
• 4) Execution - Overall, does your animation "work"? Does it have any flaws? Is the quality consistent? Is there any significant clipping?

Materials
Download for the materials will be provided at the start of each week. For now they are public - If someone really wants to be a shithead and upload things that are made public exclusively for the competition or use them for something else, I can't stop them anyway. If it's a problem, action will be taken (they won't be open for public download for one). This is meant to be something fun. Please be mature about it. Do not fuck this up.

1/29/10 - Create a reload animation for the Halo 1 Fuel Rod Gun and the provided FP rig. The model has been edited for flexibility and you are free to make further adjustments as long as they follow the rules. First-place prize is a $15 donation to the site in their name. Second-place prize is a $5 donation.

CONTEST 1 IS OVER. Jackal Stomper's entry won first; ODX's entry won second.

3/1/10 - Hell on Two Legs
Create an animation (yes, anything) using the provided rigs of the Hellhound and Hellbringer/Loki BattleMech chassis. You are not obligated to use both of them, but it would probably improve your chances of winning. You may alter the rigs, geometry, and render settings as you wish within reason. For this competition, you may also use any outside props or environments that you want, but if it is not something that is readily available (you should be able to figure out what that means) or something you created specifically for this competition you are required to post it in the thread so others can use it as well. Submission deadline will be decided as entries begin coming in. First-place prize is a $15 donation to the site in their name and second-place prize is a $5 donation, unless someone steps in with something else.
Materials are here.